Hinge

ABSTRACT

A hinge especially suited for securing the rear gate of a vehicle to a vehicle body. The hinge is moveable between a retracted and an extended position. In the extended position, the hinge facilitates painting of the vehicle body and gate, especially the area between the vehicle body and gate, including the hinge itself. The hinge is maintained in the extended position without the need to insert a screw, or other extraneous member, into the hinge, thereby simplifying the painting procedure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to hinges, and more particularly tohinges moveable between a retracted and an extended position to therebyfacilitate the painting of a vehicle.

During the manufacturing process of cars, trucks, and other vehicles,the body of the vehicle and the vehicle's doors and rear gate aretypically painted together simultaneously. The simultaneous paintinginsures that the vehicle body, doors and gate are all of a preciselymatching color. Because the hinges which connect the vehicle doors andrear gate to the vehicle body are also typically painted, it isdesirable that the doors and gate be attached to the vehicle during thepainting process. However, due to the generally small spaces between thedoors or gate and the vehicle body, it is difficult to painttherebetween. This difficulty often necessitates painting the gates anddoors in a first position, and then following this up with a second stepof painting when the doors and gates are in a second position. Thissecond step, of course, requires extra time and expense and is thereforedesirably eliminated.

In the past, the problem of painting the relatively inaccessible areasbetween the vehicle body and gates or doors has been solved by the useof extendable hinges. The extendable hinges are moveable between aretracted normal position and an extended painting position. In theextended painting position, the gate or doors are spaced a sufficientdistance away from the vehicle body to enable painting therebetween tobe accomplished satisfactorily and in a single step. After painting, thehinge is moved back and secured in its retracted position and thereafterfunctions as a normal hinge. While these hinges have greatly facilitatedthe painting of vehicles, the past hinges have not been completelywithout their own disadvantages.

One disadvantage of the prior extendable hinges has been the necessityof inserting one or more screws, or other extraneous parts, into thehinge to secure it in the extended painting position. This requires anadditional labor step and therefore slows down the manufacturing processand adds expense. Another disadvantage of prior extendable hinges hasbeen the need to discard the screws used to secure the hinge in theextended position. These screws have typically been discarded for tworeasons. First, these screws are often scuffed when they hold the hingethey hold the hinge and attached gate in the extended position, and aretherefore desirably replaced with new screws to secure the hinge in itsretracted position. Second, in some prior extendable hinges it isnecessary to provide additional screws to secure the hinge in theretracted position after painting. Because these additional screws willnot have been painted, they will not match the other screws. In such acase, it is typically desirable to replace the painted screws withunpainted screws so that all the screws match. The discarding of screws,of course, results in undesirable waste and expense. Some priorextendable hinges also suffer from the disadvantage of requiringwelding, riveting, or the like of various parts of the hinge tomanufacture it. These types of steps increase the cost of manufacturingthe hinge, and are therefore undesirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A hinge according to one aspect of the present invention includes abase, an intermediate member, and a bracket. The base is adapted to besecured to a stationary element, such as a vehicle body, and the bracketis adapted to be secured to a movable element, such as a vehicle reardoor or gate. The intermediate member connects the bracket to the base.Either the base or the intermediate member includes at least one slidetrack and the other of the intermediate member and base includes atleast one slide member which slidingly engages the slide track. Theslide member and slide track movably secure the intermediate member tothe base such that the intermediate member is movable from a retractedposition adjacent the base to an extended position away from the base.The slide member is adapted to be releasably held on the slide trackwhen the intermediate member is in the extended position without thenecessity of inserting one or more screws into the hinge. The bracket ispivotally secured to the intermediate member and thereby allows the gateof the vehicle to be opened and closed on the vehicle. The movablenature of the intermediate member with respect to the base allows themovable element to be extended away from the stationary element in orderfor painting therebetween to be facilitated. Moreover, the slide memberis designed so that screws do not have to be inserted into the hinge tosecure it in the extended position, thereby eliminating this extra stepin the painting process. Without the necessity of screws to hold thehinge in the extended position, the prior practice of discarding screwsis also eliminated.

These and other benefits, results, and objects of the present inventionwill be apparent to one skilled in the art, in light of the followingspecification when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a hinge according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a base according to one embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a rear, elevational view of the base;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the base;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the base;

FIG. 6 is a rear, elevational view of an intermediate member accordingto one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the intermediate member;

FIG. 8 is a side, elevational view of the intermediate member;

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the intermediate member;

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of a bracket according to one embodiment in thepresent invention;

FIG. 11 is a side, elevational view of the bracket;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the bracket;

FIG. 13 is a rear, elevational view of the bracket;

FIG. 14 is a side, partial, elevational view of the hinge attached to avehicle body and vehicle gate in a retracted, nonrotated position;

FIG. 15 is a side, partial, elevational view of the hinge of FIG. 14shown in a retracted, rotated position;

FIG. 16 is a side, partial, elevational view of the hinge of FIG. 14shown in an extended, rotated position; and,

FIG. 17 is a side, partial, elevational view of the hinge of FIG. 14shown in an extended, nonrotated position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals correspond to likeelements in the several drawings. A hinge 20 according to one embodimentof the present invention is especially suited to secure a rear door orgate 22 of a vehicle to the body of the vehicle 24 (FIGS. 14-17). Reardoor 22 typically pivots upwardly and downwardly to allow ingress andegress into the rear of an automobile, and includes a rear window glasspanel 23. Prior to the completion of the manufacturing process, andespecially the painting process, hinge 20 is moved to an extendedposition away from vehicle body 24 (FIGS. 16-17). In the extendedposition the space between gate 22 and vehicle body 24 is great enoughto allow complete painting of the vehicle body, gate, and hinge. Afterthe manufacturing process of the vehicle is complete, hinge 20 issecured in a retracted position. In either the retracted or extendedposition, hinge 20 is rotatable from a position in which rear door 22 islowered (FIGS. 14 and 17) to a position in which rear door 22 iscompletely open (FIGS. 15 and 16).

Hinge 20 includes a base 28, an intermediate member 30, and a bracket 32(FIG. 1). Intermediate member 30 is slidably secured to base 28 betweena retracted position and an extended position. A pivot axle or pin 34pivotally secures bracket 32 to intermediate member 30 on a side ofintermediate member 30 away from base 28. A screw, bolt, or the like 36secures intermediate member 30 to base 28 in the retracted position.Base 28 is adapted to be secured to the vehicle body 24, and bracket 32is adapted to be secured to the rear door or gate 22 of the vehicle. Forpurposes of description, the terms "front" or "forward" and "rear" or"back" will correspond to the front and rear of the vehicle,respectively. Thus, base 28 is at the front of hinge 20 and bracket 32is at the rear of hinge 20.

Base 28 includes a generally planar attachment plate 38 which definesone or more screw holes 40 through which screws, or the like, areinserted to secure base 28 to vehicle body 24 (FIGS. 1-5). It will beunderstood that the precise location and number of screw holes 40 inbase attachment plate 38 can be varied, and that other methods offastening base 28 to vehicle body 24 are contemplated.

A pair of side walls 42 extend upwardly at generally right angles oneither side of attachment plate 38. A slide track or channel 44 isdefined at the top of each side wall 42. Each slide track 44 includes abottom 46, side 48, and top 50. Bottom 46 is oriented generally at aright angle to side wall 42 and extends upwardly along side wall 42 froma front side 52 of base 28 to a rear side 54 of base 28. Bottom 46thereby defines an angled sliding surface 56 (FIG. 4) upon whichintermediate member 30 slides. At the back end of angled sliding surface56 is an indexing edge or engagement lip 55, which is used to releasablyhold intermediate member 30 in an extended position as will be describedmore fully below. Sides 48 extend upwardly from the outer ends of bottom46 at a right angle and are generally parallel to side walls 42. Tops 50are oriented at angle to sides 48 and are generally "L" shaped. Thelower leg of the "L" of each of tops 50 defines a retraction limitsurface 58 on a rearward side of top 50, and an extension limit surface60 on a forward side of top 50.

Base attachment plate 38 includes a retaining flange 62 extendingupwardly from a top surface 64 of base attachment plate 38. Retainingflange 62 is tilted with respect to base attachment plate 38 such thatit is parallel to an engagement flange 86 on intermediate member 30described below. Retaining flange 62 defines a circular, threadedaperture 66 which receives screw 36 and, in combination with engagementflange 86, selectively secures intermediate member 30 to base 28.

Intermediate member 30 includes a generally planar body 70 having afront end 72, a rear end 74 with two rearwardly extending arms 73, andpair of downwardly turned sides which define slide members 76 (FIGS. 1and 6-9). Slide members 76 are located on opposite sides of planar body70 and are oriented at right angles to planar body 70. A notch 78 isdefined in an undersurface 75 of each slide member 76 adjacent front end72 of intermediate member 30. Notches 78 each include a rear surface 79and a front surface 81 (FIG. 8). Front surface 81 is oriented at anangle θ with respect to undersurface 75 and θ is equal to 30° in thepreferred embodiment. Rear surface 79 of notch 78 is oriented preferablyat an angle of 25° with respect to undersurface 75. Of course, it willbe understood that θ and the orientation of rear surface 79 with respectto undersurface 75 can be varied without departing from the scope of theinvention. Undersurface 75 slidingly engages angled sliding surface 56of base 28 (FIG. 1). When intermediate member 30 has been pulled awayfrom base 28, notches 78 receive indexing edge or engagement lip 55 onbottom 46 of slide track 44 (See FIGS. 16 and 17). The weight of vehiclegate 22 pushes rear end 74 of intermediate member 30 downward, therebyenabling intermediate member 30 to be releasably held in an extendedposition via the insertion of engagement lips 55 into notches 78. Thisresting, or releasable holding, of intermediate member 30 in theextended position is accomplished without the use of screws or otherfasteners, thereby eliminating the extra step in prior extendable hingesof inserting a screw or the like. To overcome this rest position orreleasable holding, gate 22 is merely lifted upward. The upward liftingof gate 22 moves rear end 74 of intermediate member 30 upward untilslide members 76 are generally parallel to slide tracks 44 andintermediate member 30 can thereafter be slid forwardly into base 28. Inother words, intermediate member 30 is lifted until the rear surface 79of notch 78 no longer engages engagement lip 55 of slide track 44. Thus,to maintain hinge 20 in an extended position, no screws or the like arenecessary, no parts are scuffed, and only a single, easy step of liftingis required to thereafter retract the hinge.

A pair of forward stops 80 are located at front end 72 of intermediatemember 30 (FIGS. 1 and 6-9). Forward stops 80 are spaced from each otherand extend upwardly from planar body 70 at a right angle generallyadjacent slide members 76. Forward stops 80 are precisely located onplanar body 70 to engage extension limit surfaces 60 on base 28 andthereby prevent the extension of intermediate member 30 out of slidechannel 44 of base 28. A pair of rear stops 82 are located at rear end74 of intermediate member 30, also adjacent slide members 76. Rear stops82 are likewise oriented at a right angle to planar body 70 and arepositioned to engage retraction limit surfaces 58 of base 28 whenintermediate member 30 has been retracted into base 28. When rear stops82 are in contact with retraction limit surface 58, intermediate member30 is in a fully retracted position.

A pair of bearing flanges 84 are located on intermediate member 30inwardly from arms 73 and are oriented at right angles to planar body 70and parallel to the direction of extension and retraction ofintermediate member 30 (FIGS. 6-9). Bearing flanges 84 each define anaperture 85 through which pivot pin 34 is inserted. Pivot pin 34 incombination with bearing flanges 84 allows bracket 32 to rotate or pivotwith respect to base 28 and intermediate member 30. An engagement flange86 is located between bearing flanges 84 along rear end 74 ofintermediate member 30. Engagement flange 86 extends downwardly fromplanar body 70 and at a right angle thereto. A circular threadedaperture 88 is defined in engagement flange 86 and aligns with circularthreaded apertures 66 in retaining flange 62 of base 28. Whenintermediate member 30 is in a fully retracted position, engagementflange 86 contacts retaining flange 62 and the insertion of a screw, orthe like, through circular threaded apertures 66 and 88 securesintermediate member 30 to base 28 in the retracted position.

Bracket 32 includes a gate attachment plate 92 which defines one or moreattachment apertures (FIGS. 10-13). Inserted through attachmentapertures 94 are screws, or the like, which secure bracket 32 to thevehicle gate or rear door 22. It will be understood by those skilled inthe art that the precise number and location of attachment apertures 94on gate attachment plate 92 can vary substantially from that disclosedin the illustrated embodiment, and may include other fasteners forsecuring bracket 32 to gate 22. A pair of bracket bearing flanges 96 arelocated on either side of gate attachment plate 92 and each defines anaperture 97. Apertures 97 receive pivot pin or axle 34. Bracket 32 isthereby pivotable about an axis defined by pivot pin 34. The pivot ofbracket 32 enables the rear door or gate 22 of the vehicle to be openedand closed. After pivot pin 34 is inserted through bearing flanges 96 onbracket 32 and bearing flanges 84 on intermediate member 30, pin 34 issecured therein by a washer-type nut commonly referred to as a pal nut.Bracket bearing flanges 96 each include a limit surface 98 whichcontacts planar body 70 of intermediate member 30 when bracket 32 hasbeen pivoted upwardly. The limit surfaces 98 thereby define the maximumheight to which the vehicle's rear door or gate 82 can be opened.

In the preferred embodiment base 28, intermediate member 30 and bracket32 are each stamped from single pieces of sheet metal. It is thereforeunnecessary when manufacturing each of the three components to performany secondary operations, such as welding, riveting, or other steps tocreate these components. This decreases the manufacturing costs of hinge20. In the preferred embodiment base 28, intermediate member 30, andbracket 32 are all stamped from steel sheet metal. It will be understoodby those skilled in the art that materials other than steel can be usedto manufacture hinge 20.

During the painting process of the vehicle, with base 28 secured to thevehicle body 24 and bracket 32 secured to gate 22, screw 36 is removedand intermediate member 30 is extended rearwardly from base 28 (FIG.17). Intermediate member 30 is extended away from base 28 until indexingedges 55 of slide track 41 are received in notches 78. The weight ofgate 22 retains notches 78 against indexing edges 55 such thatintermediate member 30 is prevented from sliding towards base 28. Noscrew or other extraneous parts need be inserted into hinge 20 to retainintermediate member 30 in the extended position. While in this extendedposition, the vehicle is painted. After painting, the vehicle rear gateor door 22 is lifted sufficiently to overcome the resting of notches 78on indexing edges 55 of base 28. After lifting, intermediate member 30is free to slide and is then retracted into base 28. When fullyretracted into base 28, screw 36 is simplistically re-inserted throughcircular threaded apertures 88 and 66 in engagement flange 86 andretaining flange 62, respectively, and thereby permanently securesintermediate member 30 to base 28 in the retracted position. Because noscrews are used to hold hinge 20 in the extended position, no screws arescuffed, unduly moved, or color mismatched with other screws, therebyeliminating the disposal of any screws. If, during the life of thevehicle, screw 36 is removed from circular threaded apertures 66 and 88,gate 22 will be free to extend and retract towards and away from vehiclebody 24 between the extended and the retracted position, but forwardstops 80 will prevent intermediate member 30 from completely sliding outof slide tracks 44 of base 28. Door 22 will therefore not fall off thevehicle. The likelihood of gate 22 sliding between the extended andretraction position is further mitigated by the preferable use of twohinges 20 per gate 22.

While the present invention has been described in terms of the preferredembodiments depicted in the drawings as discussed in the abovespecification, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that thepresent invention is not limited to these particular preferredembodiments, but includes any and all such modifications that are withinthe spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

The embodiments of the present invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A hinge for pivotally joining a moveable element to a stationary element, comprising:a base adapted to be secured to said stationary element; an intermediate member moveably secured to said base, said intermediate member movable from a retracted position adjacent said base to an extended position away from said base, one of said intermediate member and said base including at least one slide track and the other of said intermediate member and said base including at least one slide member adapted for sliding engagement with said slide track, said slide member adapted to be releasably held on said slide track when said intermediate member is in said extended position by way of gravity and an upward force applied to said intermediate member that lifts said intermediate member; and, a bracket pivotally secured to said intermediate member and adapted to be secured to said moveable element.
 2. The hinge of claim 1 wherein said bracket defines a first aperture, said intermediate member defines a second aperture, and said bracket is pivotally secured to said intermediate member by an axle inserted through said first and second apertures.
 3. The hinge of claim 1 wherein said stationary member is a vehicle body, said moveable member is a gate, and said extended position of said intermediate member is sufficiently far from said base to facilitate painting of said vehicle body and said gate.
 4. The hinge of claim 1 wherein said intermediate member is selectively securable to said base in said retracted position by a single screw inserted into aligned apertures defined in said intermediate member and said base, and said screw is removed from said hinge when said intermediate member is in said extended position.
 5. The hinge of claim 1 wherein said base, said intermediate member, and said bracket are each stamped from single pieces of sheet metal.
 6. A hinge for pivotally joining a moveable element to a stationary element, comprising:a base adapted to be secured to said stationary element; an intermediate member moveably secured to said base, said intermediate member movable from a retracted position adjacent said base to an extended position away from said base, one of said intermediate member and said base including at least one slide track and the other of said intermediate member and said base including at least one slide member adapted for sliding engagement with said slide track, said slide member adapted to be releasably held on said slide track when said intermediate member is in said extended position, said slide member including a notch which receives an indexing edge on said slide track and said slide member being releasably held on said slide track while said indexing edge is received in said notch; and, a bracket pivotally secured to said intermediate member and adapted to be secured to said moveable element.
 7. The hinge of claim 6 wherein said indexing edge is adapted to be removable from said notch by lifting said intermediate member with respect to said base.
 8. The hinge of claim 6 wherein said intermediate member includes a forward stop which engages said base when said notch has received said indexing edge and prevents said intermediate member from being detached from said base.
 9. A hinge for pivotally joining a moveable element to a stationary element, comprising:a base adapted to be secured to said stationary element; an intermediate member moveably secured to said base, said intermediate member movable from a retracted position adjacent said base to an extended position away from said base, one of said intermediate member and said base including at least one slide track and the other of said intermediate member and said base including at least one slide member adapted for sliding engagement with said slide track, said slide member adapted to be releasably held on said slide track when said intermediate member is in said extended position, said intermediate member including a front end facing said base and a rear end facing said bracket, said front end including a forward stop which limits the sliding of said intermediate member away from said base, and said rear end including a backward stop which limits the sliding of said intermediate member toward said base; and a bracket pivotally secured to said intermediate member and adapted to be secured to said moveable element.
 10. A hinge for pivotally securing a gate to a vehicle body, comprising:a base including at least one slide track; an intermediate member including at least one slide member adapted to slidingly engage said at least one slide track, said intermediate member including a front end facing said base and a rear end facing said bracket, said front end including a forward stop which limits the sliding of said intermediate member away from said base, and said rear end including a backward stop which limits the sliding of said intermediate member toward said base, said intermediate member defining a first aperture, said intermediate member slidably secured to said base and slidable from a retracted position adjacent said base to an extended position away from said base; a pin inserted through said first aperture; and a bracket defining a second aperture through which said pin is also inserted wherein said bracket is pivotally secured to said intermediate member.
 11. The hinge of claim 10 wherein said slide member and said slide track, are adapted to, selectively prohibit retraction of said intermediate member into said base when said intermediate member is in the extended position without the insertion of extraneous parts into said hinge.
 12. The hinge of claim 11 wherein said base, said intermediate member, and said bracket are each stamped from single pieces of sheet metal.
 13. The hinge of claim 12 wherein said bracket includes a pair of pivot stops which limit the extent of pivotal movement of said bracket with respect to said intermediate member.
 14. The hinge of claim 13 wherein said intermediate member is selectively securable to said base in said retracted position by a single screw inserted into aligned apertures defined in said intermediate member and said base, and said screw is removed from said hinge when said intermediate member is in said extended position.
 15. A hinge for pivotally securing a gate to a vehicle body, comprising:a base including at least one slide track, said base adapted to be secured to the vehicle body; an intermediate member including at least one slide member adapted to slidingly engage said at least one slide track, each said slide member including a notch which receives an indexing edge on said slide track and said slide member being releasably held on said slide track while said indexing edge is received in said notch, said intermediate member defining a first aperture, said intermediate member slidably secured to said base and slidable from a retracted position adjacent said base to an extended position away from said base; a pin inserted through said first aperture; and a bracket defining a second aperture through which said pin is also inserted wherein said bracket is pivotally secured to said intermediate member, said bracket adapted to be secured to said gate.
 16. A hinge for pivotally joining a gate to a vehicle body, comprising:a base adapted to be secured to said vehicle body, said base including a vehicle attachment plate having two sides and a pair of substantially parallel sidewalls at each side of said vehicle attachment plate, each said sidewall extending upwardly from said vehicle attachment plate and defining a slide track oriented at a first angle to said vehicle attachment plate; a retaining flange on said base, said retaining flange extending upwardly at a second angle from said vehicle attachment plate between said pair of sidewalls, said retaining flange defining an aperture therein; an intermediate member slidably secured to said base, said intermediate member slidable from a retracted position adjacent said base to an extended position away from said base, said intermediate member including a planar body and a pair of substantially parallel slide members oriented at a right angle to said planar body, said slide members adapted to slidingly engage said slide track, said intermediate member further including a downwardly extending flange defining an aperture, said downwardly extending flange adapted to abut said retaining flange of said base and secure said intermediate member to said base when said intermediate member is in said retracted position and a screw is inserted through said apertures in said retaining flange and said downwardly extending flange; and, a bracket pivotally secured to said intermediate member and adapted to be secured to said moveable element.
 17. The hinge of claim 16 further including a pin which is inserted through aligned bearings in said bracket and said intermediate member wherein said bracket pivots with respect to said intermediate member about said pin.
 18. The hinge of claim 17 wherein said intermediate member includes a front end facing said base and a rear end facing said bracket, said front end including a stop which limits the sliding of said intermediate member toward said base, and said rear end including a stop which limits the sliding of said intermediate member away from said base.
 19. The hinge of claim 18 wherein each said slide track includes an engagement lip and each said slide member includes a notch which receives said engagement lip and holds said intermediate member in said extended position until said slide member is lifted and said engagement lip is no longer received in said notch.
 20. The hinge of claim 19 wherein said base, said intermediate member, and said bracket are each stamped from single pieces of sheet metal. 